Creature Speak

Mining from other’s experiences 
the gold you never found 
on your own, 
thinking it’s the same as earning.

But the sheen never sticks 
to your skin to shield you, 
because gold is only shiny bricks, 
still heavy to carry.

And if you never learned to lift 
your own weight off the floor, 
how will you ever carry more?


When lessons are paid for in pain,
no one can gain the wisdom of another 
without the courage to dive 
to their own depths.

And even then, you will only learn 
the lessons of your own descent, 
gathering new and glittering stones
for yourself,

better than gold or any substance 
made valuable for their surfaces 
by those who never comprehend 
the weight inside what is seen.


So fall now, Darling.  
And after the weeping 
and grinding teeth
and thrashing dreams, 

when your tears are all sunken 
back into your skin, 
and there is no one around 
to see you glimmering down there…

Then, with the gleam of grief 
and your own insight so bright, 
they will all run to come and see 
where on Earth you got your light.

©2023, Sheya Forest